defensive wound
Harm while resisting
A defensive wound is an injury sustained while trying to protect oneself from attack—cuts on the palms from grabbing a blade, bruises on the forearms from blocking blows.
Forensic investigators look for defensive wounds to reconstruct violent encounters: The victim's hands showed defensive wounds consistent with a struggle.
- cutSeverance or reduction
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- injuryPhysical or psychological harm
- attackAggressive act against another
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
laceration · forensic pathology · autopsy report · medical examiner · hand-to-hand combat · resistance · abrasion · contusion · evidence · hematoma · victim testimony · murder trial · cause of death · crime scene analysis · assault · blunt force · harm · victim
defensive woundself-inflicted wound
combat injury · fatal wound · mortal wound · accidental injury
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